Step By Step

Day three hundred six

It's been a rough week and I am feeling it!  I think I have the makings of a cold brewing or at the least some allergy issues.  I prayed this morning that the Lord would bless my little body with health.  I will try to do my part and rest, but I am not very good at that. I don't have time to get sick! I know He will do His best for me! 

1 Chronicles 10:13-14

"So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;  And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse."

What a somber epitaph for Saul.  He had such a good beginning and he did do some good things during his reign, but in the end he would die because of his unfaithfulness. 

The interesting thing about Saul is that his sin was not one giant mishap, but a culmination of smaller sins.  Saul is a man who in increments turned away from the Lord.  Some examples:

· Saul was in Gilgal and he offered sacrifices when he was told to wait on the Lord – for the Prophet

· He was told to not spare any of the Amalakites or their cattle – he spares Agag and keeps the choice cattle

These might not seem like big things to us, but it was these little acts of disobedience that hardened Saul's heart to the Lord. Step by step he became desensitized to sin and his heart became rebellious. 

We need to take note of this because the same thing can happen to us. One little compromise leads to another, and another, until slowly our heart becomes desensitized.  It becomes harder to discern the voice of the Lord or to recognize the truth in our lives.  It can take many small steps until a person wakes up one day thinking, how did I end up here?  

This chapter really made me think about all the small things that happen in our everyday life that could lead us astray.  What may seem like trivial decisions could have lasting effects.  What if I decided to stay in bed all day instead of getting up and going to work or doing my chores?  One time might not be the end of my spiritual life, but after making that decision once I might be inclined to do it again, and again, and eventually I have created a habit that leads to idleness and laziness.  Two things that God hates and Satan loves!

I know it sounds extreme, but once the compromise is made, it is easier to start compromising in other parts of your life too.  Do I really need to say my prayers every day; the Lord knows what's in my heart.  I don't really need to take the time to verbalize my prayers.  Can you see where this would lead?

The saddest part is, I think that at any point along the way, had Saul repented to God and asked for forgiveness, he could have had an entirely different ending.

Just as we fall into the pattern of desensitization step by step the Lord has provided a way for us to get out of our spiritual decline step by step. It is called repentance and it should be an everyday process in our lives.  

 We might not be able to control how or when our life ends, but we can control what our relationship with God will be at that moment.  It doesn't come in one huge moment, but step by step over time.